Abstract

Patients suffering from cholestasis and jaundice are frequently encountered in daily clinical practice. Cholestasis is a pathological condition characterized by impaired bile formation and secretion in livers. The accompanying oxidative stress may damage hepatocytes and thereby result in severe jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia), leading to liver fibrosis. Kampo formulation inchinkoto (IKCT) has been recognized as a “magic bullet” for the treatment of jaundice. Although the potent hepatoprotective and choleretic actions and main active ingredients of IKCT have long been known, the recent advances in research of bile formation and hepatic transporters have opened a road to the understanding of the action mechanism. In this chapter, the molecular mechanism of the clinically useful actions induced by ICKT is described in detail.